Shelf with replaceable surface



June 4, 1957 E. F. SCHILD SHELF WITH REPLACEABLE SURFACE Filed Aug. 31, 1954 f/wmg W 4X07" eg SHELF WITH REPLACEABLE SURFACE Edwin F. Schild, Schiller Park, Ill.

Application August 31, 1954, Serial No. 453,349

1 Claim, (Cl. 211-135) My invention relates to a shelf having a surface which may be replaced when desired, by a new surface.

In food stores and super markets where there is a very heavy use of shelves displaying goods for sale, the top surfaces of the shelves become worn, discolored, scratched and distorted. Because such stores require a high degree of neatness and attractiveness for the sale of their products, such equipment heretofore had to be replaced or entirely refinished. This was a great economic waste because much of the shelving should have been saved. The main replacement need was the tops or surfaces of the shelves. It is among the objects of my invention to provide shelving construction in which the top portions may be removable and replaceable. This results in substantial economies in saving the rest of the shelving equipment.

My invention also contemplates such other objects, advantages and capabilities which will later more fully appear, and which are inherently possessed by my invention.

While I have shown in the accompanying drawings a preferred embodiment of my invention, yet it is to be understood that the same is susceptible of modification and change without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, Fig. 1 is an end elevational view of my shelf with replaceable surface; Fig. 2 is 'a bottom view partly broken and in section; Fig. 3 is a front elevational view on a reduced scale; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of my shelf as support in an illustrative construction; Fig. 5 is a detailed broken sectional view on line 55 of Fig. 4; and Fig. 6 is a detailed broken sectional view on line 66 of Fig. 4.

The embodiment selected to illustrate my invention comprises a shelf body member 10 having a downwardly extending rear flange 11 adapted to engage the spaced cut lugs or seats 12 formed in rear wall 13. Body member 10 also has a downwardly extending front flange 14. Body member 10 is bent back on itself for double thickness and added strength throughout flanges 11 and 14. Downwardly extending side flanges 15 and 16 are attached to body member 10 by spot welding or other suitable means and are adapted to engage spaced uprights 17 and 18.

Since my invention is concerned with the shelf, it may be removably attached in any suitable manner to any desired support.

Attached by spot welding or other suitable means to rear flange 11 is retainer 19 which extends :above the top level 20 of body member 10, and then is bent inwardly at right angles thereto and extends substantially parallel with the doubled back end 21 of body member 10.

nite States Patent 0 f "ice A front molding 22 inwardly curved and slotted on its outer portion for the reception and holding of removable advertising tickets 23 is attached to front flange 14 by spaced rivets 24 or any other suitable attaching means. The upper portion of molding 22 extends above top level 20 of body member 10 and has an inwardly bent lip 25 extending substantially parallel with the doubled back end 26 of body member 10.

A surface member 27 of pressed wood, fiber board, linoleum, metal or other suitable material of a thickness suflic-iently less than the heights of retainer 19 and lip 25 is slid into position covering surface 20 of body member 10. It is held in position by retainer 19 and lip 25.

When it is worn or damaged or change is desired for any reason, surface member 27 may be removed and another inserted. A U-shaped member 28 has spaced extensions 29 and 30 attached by spot welding or other suitable means to the under-surface of body member 10 for strengthening the same and preventing buckling thereof due to heavy loads.

It is within the contemplation of my invention that either one of the retainer 19 or lip 25 on molding 22 be eliminated so that there is but a single retaining means for surface member 27.

My retaining means may be in the form of retainers similar to retainer 19 but attached to flanges 15 and 16 for the removable reception of surface member 27.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

A display shelf for heavy use in super markets in which the top surface member of the shelf becomes worn, discolored and scratched from heavy use and may be promptly replaced by a new, neat, attractive surface member comprising a rectangular metal body member having a flat body portion and integral front and rear downwardly extending flanges, a retainer attached to said rear flange and extending above said flat body portion and then bending inwardly at substantially right angles thereto and extending substantially parallel with said body portion, a front molding attached to said front flange and extending above said flat body portion, and having a lip at its upper end extending inwardly at substantially right angles thereto and substantially parallel with said body portion, and a removable and replaceable surface member positioned on top of said body portion and of a thickness sufliciently less than the height of said molding and said retainer above said body portion to extend beneath and be removably held by said lip and said retainer, said surface member slidably and immediately removable from said body portion and under said lip and said retainer and replaceable with another surface member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,336,971 Levene Apr. 13, 1920 1,750,256 Bonfield Mar. 11, 1930 1,774,235 Ohnstrand Aug. 26, 1930 1,783,675 Roberts Dec. 2, 1930 2,256,996 Bales Sept. 23, 1941 2,374,658 Bales May 1, 1945 2,429,290 Mueller Oct. 21, 1947 2,612,423 Hennell Sept. 30, 1952 2,665,183 Battles Jan. 5, 1954 

